Orbán’s leadership questioned as 53% of Hungarians suspect corruption involvement
According to a poll, more than half of Hungarians believe PM Viktor Orbán is involved in corruption. The recent survey conducted by the Publicus Institute has revealed a significant shift in public perception regarding corruption among Hungary’s top political figures. The poll, which focused on the recent U.S. sanctions against Cabinet Minister Antal Rogán, also explored broader opinions on corruption within the highest divisions of the Hungarian government.
More than half of Hungarians believe Orbán is corrupt
The survey’s most striking finding is that 53% of respondents believe that the Hungarian PM may be personally involved in corrupt activities. According to Népszava, this figure slightly surpasses the 50% who consider it likely that Rogán is at the centre of Hungary’s corruption system. These results suggest a growing scepticism among the Hungarian public about the integrity of their political leadership.
Breaking down the numbers, 35% of respondents deemed it “very likely” that Orbán is involved in corruption, while an additional 18% considered it “rather likely.” In contrast, only 30% of those surveyed believed the Prime Minister was unlikely to be involved in such activities, with 20% saying it was “not at all likely” and 10% finding it “rather unlikely”.
Great divide
The survey results show a clear partisan divide. Among government supporters, only 7% believe Orbán might be involved in corruption. This figure rises dramatically to 87% among opposition voters, while 48% of undecided voters suspect the Prime Minister’s involvement.
András Pulai, director of the Publicus Institute, commented on the findings, noting that many respondents view the U.S. sanctions against Rogán as ultimately targeting Orbán himself. This perception aligns with a broader sentiment that corruption may extend to the highest levels of government.
Film about the Orbán empire garnered attention
These survey results emerged before the release of a documentary by investigative journalism portal Direkt36, which examines the Orbán family’s economic empire. The film (read our report on it HERE) has garnered significant attention, with over 2.2 million views on YouTube as of 12 February 2025.
The government has not yet provided a substantive response to the allegations presented in the documentary. However, Fidesz parliamentary group leader Máté Kocsis previously suggested that Ukrainian intelligence services were preparing a smear campaign against Orbán, a claim that Direkt36 has firmly denied.
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